And Now for Something Completely Different...

Hi everyone:

I find myself here on a Sunday, recovering from a party at my house last night, and art is on the brain.    I've got some new work to share from one of my current portfolios, but also some work that is a bit different than...well...anything I've ever done.

First, the new but not the completely new.  I recently created a new photograph for the renamed "Playthings" portfolio on my website (formerly "Vintage Toys").  Here it is:

So, as you can see, this follows the general concept of the existing series.  But, to get describe it a little further, here's a freshly worded artist's statement about this body of work:

"In this series, I’ve chosen to represent the concept of memory through objects that are fraught with emotion during a relatively short, but important time in our lives.  Toys are created not merely as play things, but also as a way for children to relate to the adult world.   These memories are then packed away in playrooms, toy chests and boxes as they are replaced by “real life” experiences. But what happens when these toys are given new life in the “grown-up” environments they were originally created to mimic?  The lines between our innocent, child-like selves and our adult “reality” become a bit more porous… and we realize that maybe the world of our childhood is just as “real life” as the one we now occupy."

I've known that I wanted to take this photo for over a year, but I had to wait until just last weekend.  See, the problem is that I don't have regular access to an airport...you know, TSA rules, the fact I'm not a pilot and all those other pesky details.  Last weekend was our local airshow and during that event, they let the general public into the airport facility to see the planes there, watch the events, etc. So, I brought my 1950's Marx prototype toy plane along for an impromptu photo shoot.  I got some very strange looks as I was down on my belly photographing this thing, but it was worth it.  I shot over 100 photos in less than 10 minutes so I could get in and out of there before someone got suspicious, and the one I ended up using was frame #1.  Probably the first time in recent memory that's ever happened.

Now, back to the title of the post.  In this case, the "something completely different" is actually a series of line drawings I did a few months back.  If you read my recent interview on F-Stop (or Medium, LensCulture or Wobneb... pick your poison), you'll know that drawing, for better or worse, had a major impact on the early part of my photo career.  Well, I saw some work by a Japanese artist named Ko Ushijima and immediately became inspired to create my first ever series of line studies.  For about a week or so, it became an obsession and I was doing one of these a night and posting them immediately to Instagram and Facebook to get a some real-time reactions.  Feedback was quite positive...possibly because they're so different from what I normally do, but I'm pretty pleased with how most of them came out.  Here's a few for your viewing pleasure, in case you haven't seen them already:

I've got some additional images in the hopper and hopefully some more exciting news in the next couple of weeks.  Enjoy the start of my favorite month of the year, and stay tuned for some more new work!

-Marc

Just a taste

Hi everyone:

I know it's been a while and I do have some news to deliver on various fronts.  That info will be forthcoming in a couple of days when I can sit down and write a longer post, but for now, I wanted to let everyone know about an interview I did about my work with my friend and colleague Cary Benbow (a great photographer in his own right.)  It's undoubtedly the most in-depth discussion I've ever had about my work, and I'm really proud of how the article turned out.  Check it:

https://wobnebmagazine.com/2016/08/15/interview-with-photographer-marc-sirinsky/


In the meantime, stay tuned for more photographic tastiness!


-Marc S.

Back From The Dead

Hi everyone:

After a promise that I would be better about posting art news here, this is my first post in all of 2016.   Seriously shameful.  I could provide a ton of excuses, but that doesn't really get us anywhere, does it?
So much has happened, it's hard to know where to start!

In June of 2015, Gallery Plan B (my "home" in Washington, DC) closed its doors.  Since then, I've been working on my current bodies of work, and even managed to start a new one... more on that in minute.  I participated in a couple of group shows - the most enjoyable of which was Art Night DC - a wonderful experience with an incredible array of work.  A lucky design firm is now the proud owner of an image from my "painterly" series, and I hope to do the show again next year.

I also just returned from a trip to Italy, where I of course shot a bunch of images.  For this trip, I actually left my plastic camera at home... a first for me.  I did manage to get some other nice images with the other two camera I brought along for the journey.  Many of course were posted to various social media sites, but I held back a few, including one of my favorites:



I photographed this while en route from Montecatini Terme, IT to the old Etruscan city of Volterra.  I'm really pleased with how it turned out - both as a single image, and for the way it fits into my general portfolio of work.

I also finished an image from a brand new series about an hour ago.   I'm not sure where this series is going, but I have some hopes for it and think it could be a nice change of pace for me, without leading me too far astray from my other work:




The image was shot with an iPhone, but using this really cool microscope called a uHandy by Aidmics Biotechnology.  As many of you know, I look to my personal past and as inspiration for many of my images.  The last time I was in Chicago, I visited the neighborhood where I grew up and took some "samples" from a few select locations.  When I returned, I ran some of the samples through a scientific process and then created the photographs from the results.  This one is from the location of a bicycle accident I had as young kid, and accordingly, the image is called "Crash."   I have high hopes for this series, and unlike most of my other work that tends to be on the small side, I envision these prints being quite a bit larger.   We'll see how it all develops (pun intended - see what I did there?)

So, creating new work and looking for a new gallery home...that about covers it for now.  More updates as they become available, and thanks for sticking with me!

-Marc

Keeping the Promise (For Now)

Hi all:

So, as the title of this post says, I'm going to attempt to keep my promise and post more frequently.  I just got back from vacation, I sent out my official new website announcement this evening, so no time like the present, right?  Yep, I agree.

I've been thinking about it and I feel like my blog followers are the truly "special" folks who are really invested in my work, exploits, shenanigans, etc.  And, while I post pictures regularly to Instagram and Facebook, I feel like this should be the place where you get a little something extra.  Maybe it's works-in-progress, a finished piece before the rest of the cyber-universe gets to see it, or maybe something just for you.  I've done this in the past to varying degrees, but I've never made it part of the blog's mission.  Well, now it is.

To that end, while I was traveling last week, I did a lot of shooting.  And, while I posted a lot of images up to my various social media accounts, this one I held back.  Part of the reason is it needed a little photo editing love, and the other reason is I think I may want to do something with it, but haven't decided.  It has no title yet and is hot off the presses, so let me know what you think.

I did a ton of shooting with my vintage plastic camera as well, so expect some new images from that in the near future (both straight and mixed media).  Otherwise, stay cool out there and more to come very, very soon.

-Marc

New and Improved...

Hi everyone:

Welcome to the new and improved blog.  I know it's been a long time since you've seen postings from me.  The reasons for this are many and varied, but its partly because I've been working on providing a better visual experience for everyone - both here and on my website.  While the website itself obviously received a major face-lift, the blog will basically operate the same way.  You'll see updates on my work, upcoming shows and other art-related goodies - but with a slightly refreshed look.

Stay tuned for some upcoming show announcements and other updates.  And as always, thanks for your support.

-Marc

On To The Next One

Hi everyone:

Just a quick note to thank everyone who has come out to see "Man Made" at Gallery Plan B in DC.  There's still a week left for those of you who haven't made it there yet, and it's a great group of work.   The show has been selling quite well in general, and in fact, I purchased a piece myself from the show - only the second time I've ever purchased from a show I've been in.  Drop by if you can... it will be worth the trip.

In the meantime, I'm gearing up for Gallery Plan B's "Year End Show."  This one is just a big art extravaganza... it's a showcase for all of the gallery's artists and it's their largest group show of the year.  The coolest part is that the show is constantly changing because when a piece is purchased, it goes home with the buyer that day and a new piece (either by that artist or by someone else) is put up in its place.   I like to go more than once for this very reason... each visit is a completely unique experience.

Information is as follows:

Year-End Group Show
Gallery Plan B
November 28 - December 24th
Opening Reception on Saturday, December 6th, 6-8 pm

The work is already safely in the gallery, and several of my pieces will be included.  Some work you may have seen before, but others will be new.  The reception for this one is always a great party, so mark your calendars!

That's all for now.  Lots of other new work in the pipeline - so more very, very soon!

-Marc

Too long, but maybe worth the wait

Hi all:

Well, I just took a look and realized I hadn't written a post since April!  APRIL!  Wow.  A few things have happened since then, which I'll get to in a bit, but apologies for being so absent.  Many of you have seen updates via Facebook, so that makes me feel a little better, but I'm going to try and be better about posting here as well.

Lots of stuff happening here, as I'm sure there is with each and every one of you.   Lots of traveling, exploring and photographing has been happening of late, and the latter relates to the main news I'm about to relay.  After all, that's why you guys are here, right?

The first piece of news to share is that I am now fully and exclusively represented in stock by Aurora Photos.  Previously, I was signed on simply to their iPhoneography category.  But, they've made some changes over the past few months and after having some conversations with them, we decided to expand our relationship a bit.   I've been holding some images back until their internal changes took place, but now that they have, I am feverishly providing them images.  So, keep on eye on Aurora Photos in the coming months for some new photographs perfectly suited for everyone's publishing needs!  Ok, maybe not everyone's, but someone's!

The second item on the agenda is to mention that I have an upcoming show.   This one will be with my now old friends at Gallery Plan B, my favorite gallery in Washington DC.  I have 4 brand new pieces I'll be showing, and they are quite different from what I've shown in the past.  And when I say brand new, I mean that some of the prints are drying...RIGHT NOW.  So, if you're a DC-local, come on out for some wine, some art and a generally awesome time.  Even if you're not local; drive, fly, teleport, whatever...!  I'll be there, so stop by and say hello.

Gallery Plan B
1530 14th Street NW
Washington, DC
Opening Reception:  Saturday, October 18th, 2014
Time:  6-8pm

That's the main stuff for now.  Watch for the official show announcement to be posted here in the next couple of weeks.  Otherwise, take care of yourselves, enjoy the start of your autumn (for those of you that are fortunate enough to have autumn) and keep checking back for more news!

-Marc